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angelgirltammy26
angelgirltammy26
Participant
May 11, 2026
Question

I purchased the 2022 version of photoshop in 2021. I was able to have it on my laptop, but cannot use it.

  • May 11, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 43 views

I downloaded the 2022 version onto my HP laptop. I am able to do simple edits on it and view pictures but that is all. When I purchased it I paid $89.99 for it and was able to use it in every way. Now I cannot use it. I wanted to lasso a picture of a person and add it to another picture I took to have a different background. But none of the buttons allow me to do anything! I honestly hate photoshop at this point because I feel like I wasted my money. If you cannot use all of the dropdown menus to be able to make any edits that you choose to do. 

I tried reaching out to support but because I am not paying for an active subscription they will not do anything to help me. I do not want to pay additional money for a program I already paid for and should be able to use. 

My laptop is from 2025 but I figured that adding it on to my current laptop would allow it to work. I have other programs that I bought and they have all worked just fine. Honestly, this makes me really not like adobe at all!! If a program is bought, then it should be able to be used. 

    4 replies

    melissapiccone
    Community Expert
    melissapicconeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 11, 2026

    Photoshop has never been available for purchase for that amount of money. You haven’t been able to pay a flat fee for it since 2015 / 2016 and even then it was over $800. You may have purchased Photoshop Elements - which is not Photoshop but more of a “consumer” version that many scrapbookers and such use. Photoshop is subscription only, monthly or pay for the whole year. Can you clarify if you have Photoshop or Elements? Do you remember where you bought it? I understand your frustration but it’s misplaced and you have been misinformed and possibly just plain old swindled. 

    Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 11, 2026

    Maybe you have Photoshop Elements 2022?

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 11, 2026

      ​@angelgirltammy26 

      If you “purchased” Photoshop 2022 because, as you say, you “don’t want to pay for a subscription” - then you have a pirated and illegitimate version. Then you indeed wasted your money. Photoshop 2022 has never been available for purchase, it was subscription only.

       

      If I misunderstood, please clarify, and include Help > System Info from Photoshop, which will list hardware and configuration, and possibly explain why it doesn’t work.

        Trevor.Dennis
        Community Expert
        Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 11, 2026

        What do you see if you open the Creative Cloud Desktop App and go to your Account settings?

        What plan does it say you have, and do the payments appear to be working properly? 

        Are you logged in to Photoshop with the same email you use for your Adobe account?

        If that is all OK, then it would be helpful if you show us a full res screen shot of your entire workspace with a document open, and the layers panel selected.

         

        Is V22.2 the only version you have installed?

        If so, is there a reason for that? i.e. Does your system spec not meet minimum for later versions?

        We should be able to fix your problem if you provide the above information.

         

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